In partnership with Rotherham Council, nationwide urban placemaker Muse set out to create Forge Island – a family-friendly destination in a historic, former-industrial district in Rotherham. We were brought on to help business owners, local people and the wider public to believe in this vision, altering their perceptions of the area, while promoting Muse’s expertise in building new communities.
We started by identifying the key messages and milestones of the project, stirring up positive news stories and thought-leadership pieces. Through regular content creation – from case studies and business profiles to blog posts and videos – we made sure the development was recognised, anticipated and celebrated.
To truly transform the narrative, though, we had to create tangible energy and excitement – proving that change was afoot in the area. Our team got to work brainstorming one-off events and campaigns that would bring the community together around Forge Island. We set up competitions and assembled a creative team to deliver pop-up food stalls and live music, marking the launch of the town’s brand-new destination.
Our communications strategy pulled Forge Island – and with it Muse and Rotherham – into the spotlight. Local interest soared and the launch event was packed out, after which town-centre footfall in Rotherham rose by 10% compared with the previous year. The Forge Island project was named ‘Outstanding Development of the Year’ at the South Yorkshire Property Dinner 2025 and ‘Best New Commercial Development’ at the 2025 Yorkshire Post Business Awards.
By bringing the benefits of the development straight to the local community, we had shown them that the patch of Rotherham around Forge Island was somewhere to be proud of; somewhere to enjoy.
